Operations at Iraq’s primary deep-water port of Umm Qasr have come to a standstill, disrupting one of the country’s main trade gateways. This is due to the impact of the United States and Israel’s war launched at the end of February against neighbouring Iran. Located at the far end of the Persian Gulf, the blockade by Tehran of the Strait of Hormuz has prevented commercial vessels from reaching Umm Qasr. Umm Qasr lies about 60 kilometres south of the Basrah oil fields where almost all of the Iraq’s crude is produced and exported. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen last week threatened a blockade of Saudi shipping there, and fired on at least one Saudi tanker, setting it alight.